5. Major conclusions and recommendations
Back to contents - Previous file - Next file
The workshop confirmed the need to confront the prevailing rangeland degradation due to irrational human activities, environmental factors, limited results generated by various programmes, lack of funds and insufficient attention devoted to this resource in the past few decades.
Range resource development programmes have been limited to production aspects without giving adequate consideration to socio-economic and human development. This very same element is also a major cause of deterioration either due to the high rate of population growth or the illconceived programmes that concentrated on meeting immediate demands without sufficient planning and efforts to accommodate future requirements.
Accordingly, sustainable rangeland development can only be achieved through comprehensive remedial programmes planned and implemented through collaborative efforts of all parties concerned within the framework of clearly defined policy and well-designed methodology.
The Workshop recommended that:
Participants of the workshop recognize the need to support local and national efforts through the adaption of coordinated regional and international activities that are planned and implemented in collaboration with concerned institutions and regional Arab as well international organizations particularly those participating in the workshop. This should begin by:
a) Preparation of appropriate methodologies for rangeland conservation and development in the Arab countries. This should comprise vegetation measurement methodologies, vegetation mapping, regular monitoring and evaluation of components of range development plans. This will ultimately form the basis for national and international efforts regarding this issue.
Within this context, the workshop strongly support the formation of a task force consisting of FAO/RNEA, the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Environment, ACSAD and other interested parties. This group should be assigned the responsibility of preparing the general features, guidelines and requirements for achieving the above mentioned goal. It will also advise on ways and means for putting into action the recommended programme and propose sources of funding and supervision.
b) Organization of an expert consultation with the objective of utilizing remote sensing techniques to monitor and evaluate the condition of rangelands and to assess the status of desertification in the Arab countries on regular basis.
This consultation should also advise on relevant ways to establish an Arab network for utilization of remote-sensing techniques for the above mentioned activities taking into account operational units and programmes that commenced in some member countries, The workshop recommends the formation of preparatory committee from the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Environment, FAO/RNEA UNEP, ESCWA and ACSAD to initiate necessary steps for organization of the proposed consultation.
c) Steps should be taken to establish a comprehensive project on conservation of biological diversity and its utilization for development and protection of the different ecosystems in the Arab Region. This should be done in conjunction with the implementation of an efficient training programme so that staff in the Arab countries can acquire necessary skills and be exposed to the most recent technologies in this field. This should be carried out under the umbrella of the Council of Arab Ministers of Environment with contributions from UNEP, ACSAD, FAO/RNEA, IBPGR, ALECSO and other interested parties. LAS Technical Secretariat and FAO/RNEA are expected to consider assigning a reputable specialist in this field for preparing a regional Arab programme on biological diversity which would then be submitted to the concerned authorities for taking the necessary action towards its implementation.